One of Los Angeles' most enduring public facilities, the brooding architecture of the Shrine is well known and widely loved. It has hosted thousands of major events over the years, even basketball games on its massive stage.

Owned and operated by the Al Malaikah Auditorium Company (part of the Shrine Al Malaikah Temple), the original facility was opened in 1906, but was destroyed by fire in 1920. Re-built in 1926, it has hosted numerous major awards shows such as the Academy Awards, Grammy Awards, People's Choice Awards and the Latin Grammys, and the adjacent Exposition Hall hosted the fencing and roller skating competitions of the 1991 U.S. Olympic Festival.

The combination of the marvelous theater setting and the attached Expo Hall make the facility one of the most unique and flexible anywhere.

The basics:
The Shrine seats 6,300 in the main theatre, with 3,044 seats on the main floor and 3,256 in the balcony. There is an extensive lobby (approx. 20 by 125 feet) and the 54,000 sq.ft. Exposition Hall adjacent has 34,000 sq.ft. on the main floor and another 20,000 sq.ft. on the mezzanine level.

An extensive 1993 renovation added $15 million in improvements, including an 800-space, multi-level parking structure adjacent to the Auditorium and a long list of technical infrastructure upgrades.

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Location and parking:
The Shrine Auditorium is located on Jefferson Boulevard between Figueroa and Hoover Streets in downtown Los Angeles, opposite the campus of the University of Southern California. Access is easy from the Harbor (110) Freeway, just a half-mile east of the site via the Exposition Boulevard exit.

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Management:
The Auditorium is managed by booking and sales manager Gabe Sobol, assisted by production manager Bill Bell. For inquiries about facility use, call the Shrine at (213) 748-5116, by fax at (213) 742-9922 or via email at shrineauditorium.com.

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Technical information:
The theatre facility offers 6,300 seats as noted above. There is an extensive lobby of approximately 20 feet deep by 125 feet wide for pre- function programming and, of course, the Expo Hall provides unmatched flexibility. The Expo Hall measures 298 feet long from wall to wall and 144 feet wide (there are interior columns; 90 by 239-foot clear center area) and the ceiling is 43 feet at its peak, but 12 feet under the mezzanine overhang. Load-in is accommodated through a 13 foot high by 7.5 feet wide dockway.

The enormous stage area measures 194½ feet from wall to wall and is nearly 69 feet deep from wall to stage lip. The stage opening is 104½ feet wide.

There are extensive dressing facilities in a lower level under the stage, with two very large chorus rooms which can be used for team rooms if desired. There are a series of 14 smaller rooms for performer (or officials) use spread over three floors, including three on the stage (first floor) level. There is also an Orchestra Ready Room on the lower level, with two access stairways and restrooms: perfect for administrative or event management use during events.

There is a full ticket office and there are concessions stands in the Expo Hall, as well as a full kitchen for catering purposes. The theatre is equipped for full theatrical lighting and sound; there is no scoreboard.